Bill Text: NJ ACR108 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges State of New Jersey, county and local governments, owners and operators of water utility facilities, and certain chemical companies to utilize and implement Inherently Safer Technologies.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-06-16 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [ACR108 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-ACR108-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 108
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 25, 2010
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LINDA STENDER
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman JOHN F. MCKEON
District 27 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Urges State of New Jersey, county and local governments, owners and operators of water utility facilities, and certain chemical companies to utilize and implement Inherently Safer Technologies.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution urging the State of New Jersey, county and local governments, the owners and operators of water utility facilities, and certain chemical companies to utilize and implement Inherently Safer Technology measures where necessary and appropriate.
Whereas, Since the terrorist attacks on September 11th, there has been growing concern over the security of our nation's chemical and water utility facilities which traditionally use and produce Toxic Inhalation Hazard (TIH) chemicals, or TIH chemical derivatives; and
Whereas, Chemical and water facilities in the State of New Jersey that use or produce TIH chemicals currently have the potential for being vulnerable as terrorist targets, and an attack on these sites would have the potential to kill or seriously injure numerous residents of this State; and
Whereas, The vulnerabilities of chemical-related industries are dramatically increased given that the majority of TIH chemicals, such as chlorine, are generally shipped to and from certain water utility facilities and chemical facilities that supply water utility facilities in unprotected, conspicuously marked railcars; and
Whereas, Finding alternative measures to produce and use needed goods should be a priority of water utilities and the chemical facilities that use TIH chemicals, or products derived from TIH chemicals, and protecting our communities by removing the threat of TIH chemicals being released is of ultimate importance; and
Whereas, Inherently Safer Technology (IST) differs from the traditional chemical processing approach because the hazard is eliminated or reduced by changing the process rather than by adding layers of safety protection; and
Whereas, IST is accomplished through four basic strategies: substituting highly hazardous substances with less hazardous ones; minimizing levels of hazardous materials; moderating hazards with the use of alternative forms of materials; and reducing unnecessary systems' complexity to increase process controllability; and
Whereas, A certain method to protect our communities from TIH chemicals and the danger of a TIH accident or TIH inspired terrorist attack is for water utility facilities and the chemical facilities that supply water utilities to implement best procurement practices where major disinfection and treatment materials that are derived from an IST production process are considered first in the purchase selection process, in so far as they are available and economically feasible so as not to create, increase or maintain the occurrence of a public safety and security risk; and
Whereas, State, county, and local governments in partnership with the environmental health community have a unique opportunity to play a key role in advocating for and supporting improvements in prevention of, and preparation for, terrorist attacks or unintended release of hazardous substances; and
Whereas, The Legislature deems that IST measures currently embodied in the Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act, while progressive, must be strengthened in order to mitigate the potential for a terrorist attack and other accidents created, and thus, urges State, county, and local governments to institute IST measures where necessary and appropriate; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. The State of New Jersey, as well as county and local governments and the owners and operators of water utility facilities and the chemical companies that supply these utilities are hereby urged to utilize Inherently Safe Technology measures where necessessary and appropriate in order to plausibly mitigate the potentially catastrophic effects of potential terrorist attacks or unintended releases of hazardous substances.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this concurrent resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and the President of the Senate and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly and the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the Governor of New Jersey, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, and the New Jersey Association of Counties.
STATEMENT
This concurrent resolution urges the State of New Jersey as well as county and local governments and the owners and operators of water utility facilities and the chemical companies that supply these utilities to implement and utilize Inherently Safe Technology measures where necessary and appropriate in order to plausibly mitigate the effects of potential terrorist attacks or unintended release of hazardous substances.
